Point straightening mechanism for knitwear looping machines



Feb. 21, 1950 J T JULLIE 2, 8,4 3

POINT STRAIGHTENING MECHANISM FOR KNITWEAR LOOPING MACHINES Filed July10, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FICA INVENTOR. JO$EPH 'r. JULLIE Feb. 21, 1950J. T. JULLIE 2,498,496

POINT STRAIGHTENING MECHANISM FOR KNITWEAR LOOPING MACHINES Filed July10, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.2

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w I d I um I III |6 I I INVENTOR.

JOSEPH T. J'ULLI E Feb. 21, 1950 2,498,496

J. T. JULLIE POINT STRAIGHTENING MECHANISM FOR KNITWEAR LOOPING MACHINESFiled July 10, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. JOSEPH T. J'ULLIE ATTORNEVS Patented Feb. 21 1950 POINT STRAIGHTENIN G MECHANISM FORKNITWEAR LUOPING MACHINES Joseph T. .lullie, Minneapolis, Minn, assignorto Strutwear, line, Minneapolis, Minn, a corporation of MinnesotaApplication July 10, 1948, Serial No. 38,056

9 Claims.

This invention relates to knitwear looping machines or the like, whichemploy a rotary dial or ring carrying a multiplicity of outwardlyextending spring metal points or prongs.

The invention relates particularly to mechanism readily attachable tostandard loopers and the like for automatically straightening the springsteel points after the same have become bent or deformed through use andhand transfer of corresponding loops of a piece of knitted fabricthereon.

In such machines as knitwear loopers, a dial or large annulus is mountedin a circumferential race attached to a stationary disc and this dial isprovided with sectional point clamps which cooperate with a pointretaining ring or brass to retain the depending L-shaped ends of a greatmultiplicity of small prongs called points, the working portions ofwhich extend outwardly radially of the dial in closely spaced relation.Knitwear loopers are manufactured for many operations in the productionof knitted fabrics where it is desirable to join two edges of a knittedweb or article together.

In operation, the corresponding loops of two edges of a knitted articleor web must first be transferred successively to the points carried bythe dial. Thereafter the machine is operated with a looper bracket andneedle arm carrying the strand or strands and individually looping thethread through the two series of transferred knitted loops carried bythe points.

Transfer of the two series of loops is done by hand by skilled operatorsprior to the operation of the machine and revolution of the dial. Thedownward pressure of human hands upon the points in transferring loopsof the knitted fabric as well as strain and pressures impressed uponsuch points during the machine looping operation, in time bends thepoints or positions them slightly out of their normal operativepositions in their sockets. In time, the multiplicity of radiallyarranged points (instead of presenting a substantially horizontal orslightly truncated conical position in a symmetrical generated figure)presents an irregular or undulating appearance with the result thattransfer of loops from time to time by the skilled operator, becomesdifficult and operation of the machine may become faulty.

At the present time, hand straightening tools are used with teeth toengage the points and the points are struck or pulled by such teeth,manually until the anchorage ends of the points are properly set intheir sockets with the points proper extending in a common plane orfigure. This is laborious, requires skill and produces far from perfectresults.

It is an object of my present invention to provide a mechanismparticularly adapted for knitwear looping machines but capable of use onother machines which employ a rotary dial or disc with outwardlyprojecting radial prongs which will quickly, accurately andautomatically correct the positioning of the points or prongs throughoutthe circumference of the dial or rotary member.

A further object is the provision of mechanism of the class describedwhich is driven and provided with driving connections from the commonsource of power for driving the looper machine and which operates uponthe points during the normal revolution of the dial without requiringdetachment of dial sections or detachment of the dial from the machine.

More specifically, it is an object to provide automatic pointstraightening and positioning mechanism for knitwear loopers and thelike which employs as essential elements, a vertically reciprocating armpositioned generally in close spaced relation beyond the points of thedial carrying a pair of cooperating individual point-engaging strikerelements, one adapted to successively raise the terminals of the pointsand the other being adapted to depress the terminals of the points. Thecooperating action of these two point striker members through theinherent resiliency of the spring steel points and nature of theiranchoring sockets, restore the points successively to normal and correctoperative position.

A further object is the provision of mechanism of the class describedwhich is readily attachable when needed to the fixed disc or mounting ofconventional knitwear loopers, occupying the position in certain of saidconventional loopers, of the usual clipper mechanism and reciprocated,as in the case of the clipper mechanism, from a pitman or linkconnection with the inwardly extending horizontal dial driving shaft.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of mechanism ofthe class described wherein the inward positioning of the point raisingand point depressing elements carried by the reciprocating arm as wellas the spaced relation thereof, may be accurately adjusted by means of amicrometer nature.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will more fullyappear from the following description made in connection with theaccompanying drawings wherein like reference characters refer to similarparts throughout the several views and in which Fig. 1 is a perspectiveview showing the greater portion of a conventional knitwear loopermachine with some of the working mechanism broken away and showing anembodiment of my point straightening mechanism operatively attached andconnected for driving;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken through the rotary dial and dial raceand base of my attachment and showing the initial point raising step inthe cycle of operation of my mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the positioning of thereciprocating arm and the point raising and point depressing elements inthe intermediate step of the cycle of operation, just before thedownward movement of the reciprocating arm;

Fig. 4 is a similar diagrammatic view showing the third step in thecycle of operation where the point depressing element is operating andhas been moved to substantially full, downward position;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary diagrammatic view, generally similar to thediagrams of Figs. 3 and 4, but not showing the reciprocating arm, butillustrating the ultimate corrected position of one of the point afterrelease from the point depressing element of my mechanism;

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of an embodiment of my mechanism detached fromthe looper machine and with the driving link or pitman detached;

Fig. 7 is a side elevation partly in section, of the mechanism in Fig.6;

Fig. 8 is a vertical section taken on the line 88 of Fig. '7;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary, detail plan view showing a few of the points inlaterally deformed position and showing a lateral straightening element40a in operation; and

Fig. 10 is a cross section through one of the points taken on the linel0lll of Fig. 9.

Referring now to the drawings in Fig. 1, a conventional type of knitwearlooper machine is shown, having the usual stationary disc or mountingframe It provided at its circumferential edge with a dial race Illa (seeFig. 2) and having cooperatively associated therewith, a looper bracketof conventional type, indicated as an entirety by the numeral II and aconventional needle arm I la. Spaced circumferentially above themounting disc I0, is a trimmer mechanism of conventional form, indicatedas an entirety by the numeral I'Z. A guide bracket I3 is supported fromthe mounting disc 10 and is also of conventional form.

A conventional dial I4 is revolubly mounted in the race Illa andcomprises a heavy annulus having an internal flange I la which seatsupon a shoulder of the mounting disc I0 providing the dial race andwhich is removably held in I operative position by a retaining annulusI5, detachably secured to the top marginal portion of the mounting discIll. The dial M has the usual upstanding annular brass-supporting flangeMb at the periphery thereof, to which is detachably secured, a pointanchoring ring or brass annulus it of conventional structure (see Figs.2 and 3) which has formed in the inner inverted frusto conical surfacethereof, a multiplicity of narrow semi cylindrical grooves disposed invery close spaced relation for anchorage of the attachment portions ofthe conventional spring metal points 11. Each point I! has an outwardlyand radially projecting loop-retaining arm Ila and a dependingattachment portion seated in one of the said sockets of the brass andterminating in an outwardly turned extremity for engagement with thelower edge of the brass or point retaining ring IS.

A plurality of sector shaped point retaining clamps H! of conventionalstructure, are detachably secured by screws l9 to the upper marginalportion of dial [4 and have upturned clamping flanges for engagementwith the attachment portion of the points to cooperate with the brass itin positively retaining the points in operative position upon therevoluble dial.

The dial is revolved at comparatively slow speed in conventional manner,through driving engagement of a pinion (not shown), with a gear ring Mcformed on the bottom of the dial 14 (see Fig. 2). Power is applied fordriving dial l4 through a horizontally extending shaft encased in anoverhanging sleeve 20 (see Fig. 1). The said shaft terminates at itsinner end in a power take-off head 2| which is ordinarily employed inlooper machines for driving the clipper mechanism. Driving connectionsfor the dial M are conventionally made by a vertical power take-01f fromthe shaft encased in tube 20 which vertical power take-off passesthrough a casing 22 mounted on the central portion of mounting disc 10and has driving connection (not shown) by beveled gear or worm with ahorizontal driving shaft (not shown) which carries the pinion forengagement with the gear ring I40 of the dial.

My point straightening mechanism is swingably reciprocated as is theconventional clipper mechanism of a looper machine, from pitman or linkconnection with a crank pin 23 removably aifixed at an eccentric pointto the outer end of the power take-off head 2| of the shaft encased intube 20, which overhangs the top of mounting disc In. In certainconventional looper machines, my point straightener mechanism isattached to the mounting disc or more specifically, to the top of theretaining ring l5, in the precise position of the clipper mechanism.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated, I provide a block basemember 24 having a vertical arm-accommodating slot 24a in the medialportion thereof and provided with an inwardly extending rigid attachmentplate 24?) which has a pair of adjustment slots 240 (see Fig. 6) foradjustable accommodation of clamping screws 25, said slots beingdisposed at opposite sides of base block 24. The attachment 2% furtherembodies a screw-receiving adjustment lug 24d in which is threaded avertical adjustment screw 26, having a knurled handle 2611, at its upperend and with its lower end positioned to abut against the upper face ofdisc ID at a point inward of its marginal e ge.

My mechanism includes a curved, preferably horse shoe shaped operatingarm 21 disposed in a vertical plane and having its inner end pivoted bya pin 28 within the confines of the vertical slot 24a in the block base.Arm 2'! is curved upwardly from its swingable, attached end, thenoutwardly and then downwardly to dispose the outer portion of said armin spaced relation outwardly of the revoluble dial M. The said outer endof operating arm 21 has adjustably fixed thereto, a lower point raisingelement 29 and an upper point depressin element 39, said elements attheir inner extremities, serving to alternately engage, tension andsuccessively elevate and depress the outwardly extending, radiallyarranged spring metal points carried. by the dial. As shown, the twoelements 29 and 3e are of substantially identical construction with theexception of the location of their inner extremities or point engagingteeth 29a and 30a, respectively.

The point raising element 29 is in the general form of a rigid block,having an elongated central slot 2% formed therein for the reception andaccommodation of operating arm 2'5 as well as adjustment mechanism to behereafter described. A small adjustment carriage 3i is slidably mountedWithin the slot 29b of the point raising element and is restrainedtherein for longitudinal sliding movement in member 29, by suitablemeans such as the flanges 3M and 3H) (see Fig. 2). A micrometer abutmentscrew 32 is threaded in the outer end of block element 29 and its innerend engages against the carriage 3| to precisel determine the outermostpositioning of this carriage in its mounting slot 2%. One side of theblock body of element 29 is longitudinally slotted at 290 foraccommodation adjustably, of a clamping screw S which threads into theoperating arm 27!.

The point depressing element 39 is equipped with a similar smallcarriage block 33 accornmodated in the vertical slot 38b of the elementand identical in construction, slidable mounting and function with thecarriage block 32 of element 29. A micrometer screw 34 adjusts anddetermines the outermost positioning of the carriage block 33 in element30. A second clamping screw S fixes the element 38 in adjusted positionupon operating arm 21.

For lateral adjustment of the two elements 29 and 30 and to vary withina short range, the spaced relation of their point raising and pointdepressing extremities or teeth 2% and 3%, a simple but accuratemechanism is interposed between the carriages 3i and 33 and a heavy studZia fixed to operating arm 2'! intermediately of the positioning ofelements 29 and 30. To this end, a micrometer adjustment screw 35extends through a cylindrical bore in the carriage 3! of element 29 andhas its inner end threadedly received in a socket 271) formed in thelower portion of stud 21a. A coil spring 36 is interposed between thetop of block element 23 and the underside of stud 27a. By turning thescrew 35, when clamping screw S for element 29 is slightly loosened, theblock element 29 may be adjusted angularly with reference to the lowerportion of operating arm 2?.

Similar angular adjustment mechanism of a micrometer nature is suppliedfor the upper or point depressing element at consisting in an adjustmentscrew 3! passing through a cylindrical aperture in the small blockcarriage 33 and having its inner end threadedly received in a tappedsocket formed in. the upper portion of stud Zla with a coil spring 38interposed between the intermediate lower portion of block element 39and the upper edge of the heavy stud 21a.

To prevent actual deformation of the points by bending during the pointraising and depressing steps, of my mechanism and method and to alsoprevent dislocation of the points from their sockets, I provide a rotaryabutment disc 3%! journaled in a radial bearing E ie formed in the upperand outer portion of the mounting block 24 of my mechanism. Abutmentdisc 38 is aflixed to a horizontal shaft 39a which is not only journaledbut slidable longitudinall within limits within the bearing 24a. Theperiphery of disc 39 lightly rides over the points lid in a positionabove the point retaining ring or brass i6.

An elective feature of my invention Which appears to be of cooperatingutility in 'use of my mechanism on some types of looper machines, isillustrated in Figs. 2 to 8 inclusive, comprising a straightener element49 fixed to the lower end of a depending, adjustably mounted rod M andadapted to, with a slight wedging action, engage and spread the pointsI? in the downward movement of operating arm 21. The rod 4| is mountedin a short adjustable arm 42 which in turn, is adjustably secured by aclamping screw 43 to the intermediate and upper portion of the horseshoe operating arm 27. The specific shape of the spreader element 40 isbest shown in Fig. 8 where it will be noted that the angulation of oneside of element 40 with reference to the vertical, is greater than thatof the opposite side which is almost vertical. When element 40 isutilized, each point in the revolution of the dial i4 is engaged twiceby element it, the first engagement being against the more angulatedside of element 40 and the last engagement being between the opposite ornearly vertical side of element 46 and opposite side of the point. Withthis arrangement, the point is first deflected considerably past normalposition and then by engagement with the nearly vertical side of element4i] deflected only slightly past the normal position and will spring tonormal lateral position.

Operating arm 2? is driven by an adjustable pitman comprising linksections 44 and 45. Link section' i i is pivoted to the crank screw 23on the head 2| of the driving shaft. Link 45 is pivoted by a screw pin46 to the intermediate and upper portion of the horse shoe operating arm21. The opposing ends of links 44 and 45 are adjustably and rigidlysecured together by, as shown, a pair of clamping screws Al which workthrough longitudinal slots in link 45 and threadedly engage tappedsockets in link 44.

The point engaging teeth 28a and 38a of the straightening elements maybe substantially aligned in a vertical plane or disaligned. I prefer tosubstantially align these teeth vertically so that the point raisingelement 2% engages a point in its upward cycle of operation while in theimmediate downward cycle of the arm 21, the point depressing element 30aengages and depresses the same point.

Operation.

When, after extensive use, the prongs of a knitwear looper machine orthe like, have become displaced, my attachment may be readily applied tothe mounting or stationary disc of the machine in place of theconventional clipper. The pitman or link connection 45, upon originalsetting, is adjusted to obtain the proper swingable reciprocating strokeof the horse shoe shaped operating arm 27. The revolution of the powertake-off head 2| from the driving shaft for the looper machine, isalready synchronized with the clipper mechanism and the driving speed ofthe dial I4 to provide a reciprocation of the swingable arm for thecircumferential travel of each point 11.

Thus, with my mechanism, as each point I! travels in its orbit, acomplete cycle of operation of my point straightening mechanism iseffected. In the upward swinging of the depending portion of theoperating arm 21, the point raising element 2% engages and lifts theouter, radially projecting portion Ila of the point from the dotted lineposition shown in Fig. 2 to the full line position. Thereafter, thepoint Ha through spring action returns from the dotted line position ofFig. 3 to the full line position. In Fig. 3, the point straighteningelements a and 29a are disposed medially of their extreme strokes andpoint depressing element 300. is moving downwardly to engage the outerend of the point extension Ila. In Fig. 4, the dotted line position ofthe point extension Ila is similar to the full line position shown inFig. 3 and the full line position of the point Na in Fig. 4 shows theextreme depressed position of the point and incidentally, the extremedownward swinging position of the operating arm 27. In Fig. 5, the arm21 has moved upwardly, somewhat from extreme position and point I! hasreturned through resilient action, to normal, properly seated andstraightened position.

Throughout the deflection of the several points in said straighteningoperations, the abutment disc 39 rolls lightly over the outwardly bentportions of the points I], directly above the brass Ilia acting as anabutment to prevent displacement of the points from their sockets in thebrass and constituting an important element of my point straighteningmechanism.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that in one revolution of the dialI4, all of the multiplicity of points I! are successively lifted anddepressed beyond normal position, returning through spring action toproper positioning in their seats or sockets and presenting, whenoperation is completed, a substantially perfect operative alignment. Inmost looper machines, when the points are properly straightened, theylie in a truncated conical figure, slightly angled with reference to ahorizontal plane.

In most conventional looper machines, the operation of the point raisingelement 29a and point depressing element 30a is entirely adequate tostraighten the points and all thereof. Under certain conditions however,some deformation or deflection in a lateral direction may be best takencare of by the inclusion in my apparatus, of the lateral, spreaderelement 50 supported from the depending rod ll. The spreading action inthe operation of my apparatus takes place simultaneously with the pointdepressing operation of the cycle. The element 50 first engages one sideof a point I! with the angulated side of element 40, deflecting thepoint laterally, considerably beyond the normal or correct position ofthe point. Then, in the following downward movement of operating arm 21and element 40, the almost vertical side of element engages the oppositeside of the deflected point, moving the same laterally to a position ofslightly beyond the correct, laterally straightened position of thepoint. The resiliency of the point returns it from such position to thenormal, seated position.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that I have provided anapparatus or attachment adapted to very readily apply to conventionaltype knitwear looper machines and to be driven by power take-01fmechanism now utilized for other purposes (usually the clippermechanism).

It will further be seen that with my said apparatus, automatically andvery quickly, the great multiplicity of points, the working ends ofwhich are projected radially from the dial, are restored to the correctoperating positions.

It will of course, be understood that various changes may be made in theform, details, ar-

8. rangement and proportions of the parts without departing from thescope of my invention.

What I claim is:

l. Mechanism for straightening the radially disposed points ofa knitwearlooping machine or the like, having in combination a base member havingmeans for attachment in a position adjacent a looper dial, an operatingarm mounted in said base for reciprocating movement in substantially avertical plane, said arm having a portion thereof disposed outwardly ofand in close relation to the extremities of said points, means forconnecting said arm for reciprocation with a source of power, apoint-raising element mounted on said arm and extending radially of therotary dial of the machine and having an extremity shaped to underlieand raise a point in each upward movement of said arm and apointdepressing element mounted on said arm in spaced relation abovesaid point-raising element and extending also radially of said dial andshaped and positioned to overlie and depress the end of a point in thedownward movement of said arm.

2. The structure set forth in claim 1 and means for adjusting the inwardposition of said pointraising and point-depressing elements along linesextending radially of said dial.

3. Mechanism for straightening the radially disposed points of aknitwear looping machine or the like, having in combination a basemember having means for attachment in a position adj acent a looperdial, an operating member swingably mounted in said base forreciprocating movement in a substantially vertical plane and having anarm disposed outwardly of and in close relation to the extremities ofsaid points, means for connecting said operating member forreciprocation, a point-raising element mounted on said arm and extendinginwardly toward said dial and radially thereof and having a terminaltooth adapted to underlie and raise a point in each upward movement ofsaid arm and a point-depressing element mounted on said arm in spacedrelation above said point-raising element and also extending inwardlytoward said dial and radially thereof and having a terminal toothpositioned to overlie and depress the end of a point in the downwardmovement of said arm.

4. The structure set forth in claim 3 and said point-raising andpoint-depressing elements being slidably mounted transversely of saidarm and means for clamping said elements to said arm in desired adjustedposition.

5. The structure set forth in claim 3 and means connected with each saidelements for adjusting the positioning of the terminal teeth thereof insecured to said mounting disc, an operating arm mounted in said base forreciprocation in a substantially vertical plane, said arm extendingoutwardly of and in close relation to the extremities of the pointscarried by said dial, a link connecting the inwardly extending portionof said operating arm with said rotary driving element, a pointraisingelement mounted on said arm and having an inwardly extending extremityshaped to underlie and raise a point on each upward movement of said armand a point-depressing element mounted on said arm in spaced relationabove said point-raising element and also extending inwardly toward saiddial and positioned to overlie and depress the end of a point in thedownward movement of said arm.

7. Mechanism for straightening the radially disposed points of aknitwear looping machine or the like, having in combination a basemember having means for attachment in a position adjacent a looper dial,an operating arm mounted in said base for reciprocating movement insubstantially a vertical plane, said arm having a portion thereofdisposed outwardly of and in close relation to the extremities of saidpoints, means for connecting said arm for reciprocation with a source ofpower, a point-raising element mounted on said arm and extendingradially of the rotary dial of the machine and having an extremityshaped to underlie and raise a point in each upward movement of said armand a point-depressing element mounted on said arm in spaced relationabove said point-raising element and extending also radially of saiddial and shaped and positioned to overile and depress the end of a pointin the downward movement of said arm, each of said elements having aconnection with said arm permissive of swinging adjustment of theelement at an intermediate point thereon and in a vertical plane, and amicrometer adjustment screw for each element engaging the outer portionof said element beyond said operating arm and having threaded connectionwith a portion of said arm extending laterally and outwardly from thebody thereof.

8. Mechanism for straightening the radially disposed points of aknitwear looping machine or the like, having in combination a basemember having means for attachment in a position adjacent a looper dial,an operating arm mounted in said base for reciprocating movement insubstantially a vertical plane, said arm having a portion thereofdisposed outwardly of and in close relation to the extremities of saidpoints, means for connecting said arm for reciprocation with a source ofpower, a point-raising element mounted on said arm and extendingradially of the rotary dial of the machine and having an extremityshaped to underlie and raise a point in each upward movement of said armand a point-depressing element mounted on said arm in spaced relationabove said point-raising element and extending also radially of saiddial and shaped and positioned to overlie and depress the end of a pointin the downward movement of said arm, said elements each comprising abar or block at least partially surrounding said arm and extendingtransversely thereof and mounted on said arm with freedom for slidableadjustment transversely of said arm, an abutment carriage slidablymounted within each of said blocks for adjustment longitudinally thereofand adapted to engage against the outer longitudinal edge of said armand a micrometer screw threaded in the outer portion of said block andengaging said carriage to adj ust the position thereof.

9. The structure set forth in claim 8, and a clamping screw for eachelement extending through said block and threaded into said arm andworking through a slot in said block.

JOSEPH T. JULLIE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 291,620 Nugent Jan. 8, 1884733,394 Huffstickler July 14, 1903 1,336,543 Stull Apr. 13, 19201,361,528 Maine Dec. '7, 1920 1,930,755 Hofmann Oct. 17, 1933 2,249,140Inglee July 15, 1941 2,301,643 Sachse Nov. 10, 1942 2,364,989 MallinaDec. 12, 1944 2,367,602 Nivison Jan. 16, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS NumberCountry Date 535,751 Great Britain Apr. 21, 1941

